Frank ktjsteble



May 26, 1931. F. KUSTERLE FURNITURE POST END FITTING Filed March 16,1929 zmnr fiam ffwz erfe %WZI and Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FRANK KUs'rEnLn, or EriosHA, Wisconsin, As'sreno'n T0SIMMONS COMPANY, on

NEW roan, N. Y., s eonronnrron on DELAVJJLRE' "FURNITURE roar ENDnrr'rrne Application filed Mareh 16 1929. Serial No. 347,496.

This invention relates to furniture post end fittings and moreparticularly to an end fitting for the end of a hollow post, for

example the leg or corner post of an article of furniture.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved fitting of the classdescribed, which can be cheaply and economically manufactured; toprovide a fitting which is adapted to serve either as a sliding casteror button on the foot end of a post or as a trimming on the upper end ofa post; to provide means for effectively retaining the fitting on theend of a post; to provide a fitting which will present a neat and pleasing appearance on the end of a post in either of its above indicateduses; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide animproved fitting ofthe class above described.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood byreference to the following specification and accompanyingdrawings inwhich I have illustrated an improved end fitting embodying the featuresof my invention, the fitting being shown associated with the lower orfoot end of a hollow metal post.

Referring now to the drawings: Fig; l is a section through the axis of atubular metal post and an end fitting mounted on the lower end of thepost. 7

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively, ofFig.1, except for a part of Fig. 2 which isin elevation;

Fig. 4; is a perspective of a part of the end fitting; 1

In the drawings a round tubular metal post is indicated at 5 and thelower end of said post is provided with an end fitting comprising an endmember 6 and a part 7 which is secured to said end member. Ac-. cordingto the present invention, the end member 6 is preferably molded of asuitable phenol condensation product such as bakelite, and includes aninner plug portion 8 which is of a size and shape to fit snugly insideof the post 5. As an incident to molding of the end member, theperiphery of said inner plug portion is slightly tapered to a smallerdlameter'at its extreme inner end than at its outer or lower endadjacent the end of the post.

The end member 6 also includes an enlarged outer cap-like portion 9whereby a shoulder 10 is formed for receiving the end of the post andpositively limiting inward movement of the inner end portion 8 of theend member in the post. The shoulder 10 is preferably recessed as shownat 11, the recess 11 being spaced inwardly from the periphery of theenlarged outer end portion 9 so that a seat 12 is formed which isengaged by the end of the post. The recessed seat arrangement serves toeffectively conceal from viewthe line of engagement between the end ofthe post and the stop shoulder 10 of the end member 6.

The plug portion 8 of the end member is preferably recessed as shown at13 to receive a more or less cup-shaped bottom portion 141 of the part7. A fastening device 15 is provided for permanently securing the part 7to the end member and this fastening device may consist of a tubularrivet having an enlarged head 16 embedded in the end member during themolding thereof so that the fastening device is permanently secured oranchored in place. The bottom portion 14 of the part 7 is apertured asin ,19 and 20 which spread outwardly in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and.4, and the upper ends of which are bent inwardly and upwardly toprovide end portions 21 and22 which are. adapted to engage each otherwhen the end fitting is mounted on a post end. As shown in 'Fig. 3,intermediate por tions of the arms 19 and 20 engage the in side of the30st whereb the end member is frictionally held in position on the endof the post. hen the arms 19 and 20 are in operative position inside ofapost, the

tion, I have shown the bottom portion 1 ot the part 7 of increased widthas compared with the width of the arms 19 and 20. By providin the bottomportion llof increased width, the same may be given a more or lesscup-shape which will tend to stiffen the arms of-the part 7. Thearrangement may be such that the orig-shaped bottom portion 14 will litsnugly in the bottom of the inner end recess 13 or it may be such, asclearly shown in i hg. 2, wherein opposite edge corner portions 23 and2% serve to bite into'the wall of the recess 13 so as to effectivelylock the part 7 against rotation relative to the end member 6.

It will be seen that the above describedendfitting comprises onlytwomajor parts, one being the one-piece metal part 7 and the other beingthe molded end member 6, and that these parts are of such simpleconstruction that they can be cheaply and economically manufactured,assembled, and mounted on the ends of hollowfurniture posts or the likeby an unskilled workman.

I am aware that changes may be made in the above described structureWithout departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of whichshould be determined by reference to the following claims, the samebeing construed as broadly as possible con-- sistent with the state ofthe art.

I claim:

1. In a fitting of the class described, the combination of an end memberhaving a recessed plug portion, a part secured to said end member insaid recess and projecting from said plug adapted to yieldingly engagethe inside of a hollow post for maintaining said member on the end ofsaid post, the inner end portion of said end member being of a size andshape to snugly fit inside of said hollow post and the outer end portionbeing enlarged to form a shoulder for receiving the end of the post toposition said end member thereon.

2. In a fitting of the class described, the

combination of an end member having a re cessed inner end portion, apart secured to said end member in said recess and projecting fromsaidinner end adapted toyieldingly engage the inside of a hollow post formaintaining said member on the end of said post, the inner end portionof said end memher being of a size and shape to snugly fit inside ofsaid hollow post and the outer end portion being enlarged to form ashoulder for receiving the end of the post to limit inward movement ofsaid inner end portion, said shoulder being provided with a recessedseat, spaced inwardly from the periphery of said enlarged outer endportion, for receiving said post and whereby the line of engagementbetween said post end and shoulder is effectively concealed from View.

3. In a fitting of the class described, the combination of an. endmember having a recessed inner end portion, a fastening device locatedin the bottom of said recess and having an end portion embedded in saidend member whereby said fastening device is secured to said member, a.part secured to said end member in saidrccess, thi'oughthe agency ofsaid fastening device and adapted to yieldingly engage the inside of a,hollow post vor the like for, retainingthe member on the end of suchpost, the innerendportion oi said end member beingof size and shape tosnugly fit inside of said hollow v st and th outer, end portion beingenlargedto form a shoulder forreceiving the end of the post to limitinward movement of ,said inner end portion into, said post, said shoul-,der being provided with a recessed seat spaced inwardly from; theperiphery of said enlarged outer end portion, forv receiving .saidpostand wherebytheline of engage mentbetween said post andend shoulder iseffectively concealed from view.

4. A fitting of the class desi-ribcd comprising an end member of plasticmaterial, a fastening device having apart permanently embedded in andthereby secured .to said end member and a part secured to saidmemberthrough the agency of saidfastening device, adapted to yieldingly engagethe inside of a hollow post for maintaining themember on the end or"such post, said end member having a portion constituting a seatforreceiving the end ofsaid post, whereby said end membercloses saidpost end and the post conceals said fastening device and said yieldingpart.

5.- A fitting of the class describedcomprising an end member. ,of.plastic material having fastening devices anchored thereto,

and apart secured to said end member through the agency of saidfasteningdeyice and adapted to frictionally engage the inside of ahollow .post or the like to maintain said end memberon said post end,said end member having a portion constituting a seat for receiving theend of said post, whereby said end member closes said post end and thepost conceals said fastening device and frictionally engaging part.

FRANK KUSTERLE.

lUU

